William Nicholson is a screenwriter, playwright and novelist.

Recent Questions

Submitted by visitors to this website

Posted by Deirdre

May 12th 2012

Dear Mr Nicholson, You are a very generous man. Your site is filled with interesting and inspiring insights. You certainly lay yourself bare, and I would like you to know how encouraging that is. Thank you. We all have something to say; most of it is worth hearing; and some people are simply better at saying it than others. “Firelight” is one of the most stunning works of craftsmanship I have ever seen. Every element builds into the whole: the lighting, the costumes, the sets, the camera angles, the excellent actors, the compelling story. Each time I watch it I am captivated by its construction and the choices you made. I would be interested to know what scenes were written but not filmed, and those that were filmed and then discarded at the editing stage. I was much chagrined to learn that the film was not considered a success. What makes a film a “success”? Making a profit on the initial investment? Having the largest number of viewers in the cinemas during its release? No, I think a success is when every element is pertinent and the film stays in the mind long afterwards so that people return to it, as I do. Now that I have convinced you that I must be a fawning sycophant, let me assure you that I am not. I am a working mother of three with a passion for literature and the performing arts. I was raised on such delights as Flanders and Swann, C.S. Lewis (Narnia, of course, but also Perelandra and The Screwtape Letters), Swallows and Amazons, programmes like The Forsyte Saga, and more. I believe that culture should not live in a vacuum, and I believe that you as a writer enjoy receiving feedback – indeed, MUST receive feedback. You give of yourself, and it is only fair that people should give in return. So here is my point: Why not direct a film again? I admire good work and want to see more of it. Under your direction, a film of A.A. Milne’s “Once on a Time” would be wonderful. I envisage a framing story in black and white of Milne’s war experience and then the main story in colour – and I already have some actors in mind. It would be tasteful, not OTT nor IYF. Please think about it. Thank you for allowing me to voice my ideas. I trust they have fallen on sympathetic ears and, if you are ever in Paris, I would be delighted to meet you and share more ideas and enthusiasm. Sincerely, Deirdre

William Nicholson responded:

Yes, I love receiving feedback - especially such thoughtful feedback as yours. Actually it's what makes the life of a writer worth while. You ask why I've never directed a film since Firelight. The answer is time. Firelight in the end took three years, of which the third year was a misery of test screenings and misperceptions, as I saw it, between myself and the distributors. By the end I couldn't face doing it all again. The actually filming and editing I loved. But at least I've come out of it all with a high regard for directors, and a knowledge of the burdens they bear. So sadly I won't be taking up your interesting idea. Also I'm deep into novel writing these days, which gives me profound satisfaction. I don't know if you've read any of my recent books - I think you might like them.

Posted by Ryan Dwyer

May 11th 2012

Hi Mr.Nicholson, I write to you with some questions. I am making a newsletter in my Science Fiction and Fantasy class of any author that we choose. After reading Seeker and loving the way you wrote it i have chosen you as my author. In the newsletter we are to wright a brief article that presents an argument about the the author and his/ her work. My question is what influences are there on you? What i mean by that is in Jango the love that Morning Star has for Wiledman come from you love life? Or when Wiledman told her off is that what you felt when your girlfriend left you after a year you believed you would never love or be loved again? Another thing was when you wrote your first book The World, the Flesh and the Devil, you sad it was inspired by Ian Fleming. Was there any body or anything that inspired to wright the Noble Warier trilogy? Thank for writing this grate book! I not a big reader but the thing that has keep me going and wanting to read your books is the going back and forth between the different stores of the character's. I have enjoyed all three books the the noble warier trilogy!

William Nicholson responded:

In a way you're right, and everything I write comes from my own life, including the feelings of love and fears of rejection. It's not directly autobiographical, of course. But if you haven't felt it, you can't write it. The inspirations for the Noble Warrior trilogy are many. My own education at a monastery school. Reading about the Knights Templar in the era of the Crusades. Even the Jedi knights in Star Wars. But I think most of all I was fascinated by the combination of a search for god (small g), and being a trained fighter. People don't usually think of monks as fighters, but why not? I hope you have fun with your article.

Read all, or submit your own...

Sunday Times January 1 2012

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The Golden Hour

Now available in hardback

Maggie and Andrew are lovers who live apart – Maggie in the country, Andrew in London. When Andrew is offered a job close to Maggie, moving in with her is the next obvious step. Or is it? Moving in together leads to marriage. Is this the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with?

Maggie panics. Andrew is devastated. But when he turns the tables on her, Maggie begins to see him rather differently.

Meanwhile Maggie’s Sussex neighbours are living through their own intense dilemmas. Henry’s midlife crisis is exacerbated by a plague of rabbits in his garden, but hiring petty criminal Terry to extend the fencing turns out rather badly. Henry’s wife Laura is secretly adored by her brother in law, Roddy. He hovers in the wings for the moment to declare himself; while screenwriter Alan’s efforts to convert a Grade II listed outbuilding to a workspace are thwarted by a maddening local planning officer – Maggie.

The stories of these and other characters entwine in a continuous dance over seven golden days of high summer. It is a human kaleidoscope that perfectly captures how familiar yet strange, passionate yet mundane, painful yet comic our everyday lives can be.

All the Hopeful Lovers

The sequel to ‘The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life’, set eight years later, in December 2008.

Gorgeous Chloe is now 19, and takes it upon herself to set Alice up with Jack, which would be great except Jack’s dreaming of Chloe… Chloe’s mother Belinda, aged 50, wistfully reflects how much better at sex she is now than when she was young, but she’d never be unfaithful to her husband Tom. So when she discovers he’s having an affair she’s more than angry….